Mail-case for rural delivery.



PATBNTBD- SEPT. 22, 1903.

J. A. UTTERBAOK. MAIL CASE FOR RURAL DELIVERY.

APPLICATION FILED D20. 3, 1901 I0 MODEL.

UNITED, STATES Patented Sept-ember 29-, 1903;"

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ADISON UTTERBACK, OF HUBBARD, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO TELL E. BOYLAN, OF HUBBARD, IOWA.

MAIL-CASE FOR RURAL DELIVERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,625, dated September 22, 1903. 7

Application filed December 3, 1901. Serial No. 84.588. (R0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn ADIsoN U'r'rne- BACK, acitizen of the United States,residing at Hubbard, in the county of Hardin and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Mail-Case for Rural Delivery, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail-cases, and especially to that type adapted for use in rural mail service. I

The object of the invention is to produce a mail-case of the character noted adapted to be placed in the post-office for the assorting and routing of the mail and in turn, when charged with mail, to be placed upon a suitable vehicle for delivery of same on a required route. V I

A further object of the invention is to produce a mail-case which will prove compact in structure, eflicient and convenient in use, and comparatively inexpensive to install.

WVith the above and other objects in View the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the invention with -a detail view of the clamp-bolt to one side. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the invention with one side wall removed. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the plan and elevation of the septum. Fig. l is a perspective view showing the invention mounted in a vehicle for service.

Referring to the drawings, the invention consists of a suitable upright casing formed with the side walls U and D, the top and bottom faces Q and B, respectively, and the back wallS, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Of the width and extending from the front opening to the rear wall of the casing is provided a number of septa J. The number of septa placed in a case is such that a suitable space D will be left between the uppermost septum and the top of the casing, so as to allow for the changin g location of the septa when the case is charged with mail. Each of the septum heretofore referred to isprovided. with a transverse cleat across each end. The outer cleat L is secured slightly in from the front end of the septum, thus leaving the projecting lip N, which is beveled toward its upper surface for convenience in elevating the septum and to better expose the persons name beneath whose mail goes into the compartment within. The inner cleat I: is slightly thinner than the outer cleat and is fastened flush to the rear edge of the septum. The base of said inner cleat and the upper end of the inner edge of the septum are rounded, so as to reduce friction upon the elevation of the forward end of the septum for the insertion or extraction of mail. The inner end of each septum is secured in place by means of a vertical red I, which has its ends secured to the top and bottom of the casing and is adapted to penetrate oval slots M, formed in the septum centrally and near the inner end thereof, said slots having their longer axis coinciding with the longer axis of the septum. This slot, in connection with the rounded inner cleat and rounded upper edge of the inner end of the septum, allows free action of the septa on each other, on the vertical rod, and on the back wall of the casing, and enables the operator with -perfect ease to elevate one or any number of these septa without any chance of cramping or binding in the ready action of the articulating parts.

In order to avoid any rattling noise and to hold the mail under compress, confining it to a minimum space, and thus also insuring its fiXity of place during transportation, the clamp-bolt G is employed, of which there are two positions-one at the top of the casing al- 0 lowing for the complete elevation of the septa, the other position when it puts the mail under compress by holding down on the top septum of the casing. The clamp-bolt is provided with thumb-taps F, by means of which it is '5 readily loosened or secured in either position, and is moved thereto by sliding in slots 0 in the side walls of the casing.

In larger cases it is desirable that the cases be divided into two equal subdivisions by the zoo horizontal partition E, the operating parts in each subdivision being identical.

It will be understood that many changes specifically illustrated and described without I departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mail-case, a casing having corresponding vertical slots in the side walls thereof, septa arranged in vertical series within the casing,,means for movably holding the septa withinthecasing,meansforproducingadown- Wardly-inclined position of the septa toward the rear of the casing, a clamp-bolt adapted to travel in the slots of the casing; and means for binding said bolt against movement in said slots. 1 I

2. In a mail-case, a casing, septa arranged in Vertical series within the casing, means for movably holding the septa within the casing, means for elevating the septa, transverse cleats secured to the under surface of the septa, a clamp -bolt traveling in slots in the casing and means for binding the clamp-bolt against movement.

3. In a mail-case, a casing, septa arranged in vertical series within the casing, means for movably holding the septa within the casing and means for supporting the forward end of 'said septa at a greater height than the rear thereof.

4. In a mail-case, a casing, septa arranged in vertical series within the casing, means formovably holding the septa within the casing, means for elevating the septa and transverse cleats secured to the under surface of the septa whereby a suitable compartment is had between the septa in their normal position.

5. In a mail-case, a casing, septa arranged in vertical series within the casing, means for 40 movably holding the septa within the casing, an outer transverse cleat secured to the under surface of the septa'near its forward end, an innertransverse cleat similarly secured at the inner end of the septa, said inner cleat being of less height than the outer cleat, substantially as described.

6. In a mail-case, a casing, septa arranged in vertical series Within the casing, means for movably holding the septa Within the casing, outer and inner transverse cleats secured to the under surface of the septa, said inner cleat having a rounded base as and for the purpose described.

7. In a mail-case, a casing, septa having oval slots, said septa being arranged in vertical series within the casing, a vertical rod secured within the casing and penetrating the slots of the septa, substantially as described.

8. In a mail-case, a casing, having corresponding vertical slots in the sidewalls thereof, septa arranged in vertical series Within the casing, means for movably holding the septa within the casing, a clamp -bolt adapted to travel in the slots of the casing and means for binding said bolt against movement in the slots.

All of which hasbeen substantially set forth, and in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH ADISON UTTERBAOK.

\Vitnesses:

' W'ILL M. BoYLAN,

FLORENCE GoUGH. 

